ALONG THE TRAILS OF ROYALS

Kate Dzienis • March 31, 2021

Contributed by Julia Mackay-Koelen, AURA Secretary

Trails of Kings and Queens, 5-7 March 2021 (Southampton, WA)

I was so excited about the Trail of Kings and Queens this year because I did it last year and had a ball, but also because extra events were added on by event director Shaun Kaesler. Friday afternoon saw campers and caravanners arrive to set up home for the weekend. I put up my Taj MaHutchie and hoped it wouldn’t rain.

The Friday night run was great and a wonderful warm up to the hills with a sort of competition to find the Australia Day flag marquee. Some of us went off and headed to the right where Wiccus was convinced he knew where it might be but a lucky fluke (we saw a runner point us in the right direction) and meant that we found the marquee and could sprint down the hill with our own Aussie flag and Medal #1.

Saturday morning shook with excitement as runners headed to the coffee shop, downed breakfast, collected bibs, adjusted backpacks and prepared to battle it out on the mountain – well, biggish hills. Shaun disappeared and Tittikatta appeared in his place to deliver the Sermon on the Rock i.e. the Safety Briefing and words of wisdom: Go forth and Do Not Get Lost.

Freddy Mercury put in a solo appearance along with some damsels (who were definitely not in distress) but sadly he lost his chest hair early on in the piece and he spent the next few hours tying to find it on the hills.

It was humid, the hills were very high, the lows were quite low and running in white jeans is not recommended for any future trail running events. Sadly, one of our group (Melinda) experienced a flare up of an old injury and she headed back to Base while Kylie and I battled on. Getting lapped by Phil Gore on his second lap while we were still quite a ways off finishing our first had the potential to cause a major depressive episode but, luckily we consoled ourselves with the realization that Phil is a very special, amazing runner and we couldn’t imagine being lapped by anyone else!

Finishing Saturday morning’s run was awesome, Medal #2 was handed out followed by a hot shower and some tucker, and a kindy nap in the Taj MaHutchie was the icing on the cake. The night run was great but the exhilaration of all of us shimmying down the hill like a sparkly spangled snake was kind of spoiled by the fact we had to walk up said hill before we could shimmy anywhere. It was fantastic to see parents and kids doing the night run and Medal #3 was handed out! Dinner was wonderlicious, some great trail camaraderie was had as well as good conversation, and then it was light’s out.

Sunday morning and the final run. Luckily, we got a trip up the hill in a bus and got to shimmy shangle all the way down like lightning – Freddy tried to sing his song Flash but he got puffed out and needed to focus on breathing, so the singing didn’t last long. I did two wonderful semi-sprint runs and picked up Medal #4. Unfortunately I had to head off home so I could work in the afternoon.

Trails of Kings and Queens was an incredible weekend of fun running/walking/stumbling along some great trails, spending time with amazing folk and, thanks to the Linga Longa Resort folk, we got to eat wonderful food. Shaun and all the organisers, event timers, volleys created a magical atmosphere so we could all have a brilliant time. I had the chance to indulge my passion of dressing up while running and Freddy has retreated to my running dress-up box, minus the chest hair because it’s still missing.

Pictured – Event Director Shaun Kaesler with Julia Mackay-Koelen at the 2021 Trails of Kings and Queens. Photograph – Supplied.

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Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2027

By Jin Kato • July 8, 2026

The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC). KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA). AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”. “World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage for Australia's first combined National Trail Championships," he said. It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. "This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said. "We're excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running in Australia... helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners." The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship distances have been held together, at the one festival. “It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said. KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than 1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year. The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners. “We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” KMR’s founder and director, Lincoln Quilliam said. “KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities. From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first time,” Mr Quilliam said. Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR, Tasmania and the sport. “This is such a great opportunity for Australian athletes. I’ve run many of the KMR events and know the courses and the terrain are on par with what we see at the World Champs,” she said. The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news. “Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.” The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a “significant return for the visitor economy”. “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said. “We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.” “This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination. With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and visit.” For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run Dates: 19-21 March 2027 Pic credit: David Nolan & Ryan Slater